Control systems and methods for rotating systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019352002-A1
Application number	US-201815980452-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 15, 2018
Priority date	May 15, 2018
Publication date	Nov 21, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one embodiment, a local control system for a rotor assembly of an apparatus includes a first actuator disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to control motion of a first controllable element in the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly is mounted to the apparatus and is rotated responsive to torque and rotational energy provided thereto. The local control system also includes a first sensor disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to provide position feedback in relation to the first controllable element. The local control system also includes a first local control computer disposed in the rotor assembly and communicably coupled to a first central control computer disposed in the apparatus external to the rotor assembly, where the first local control computer is configured to transmit a control signal to the first actuator and receive a feedback signal from the first sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A local control system for a rotor assembly of an apparatus, the local control system comprising:
a first actuator disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to control motion of a first controllable element in the rotor assembly, wherein the rotor assembly is mounted to the apparatus and is rotated responsive to torque and rotational energy provided thereto; a first sensor disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to provide position feedback in relation to the first controllable element; and a first local control computer disposed in the rotor assembly and communicably coupled to a first central control computer disposed in the apparatus external to the rotor assembly, wherein the first local control computer is configured to transmit a control signal to the first actuator and receive a feedback signal from the first sensor.

2 . The local control system of claim 1 , wherein the first local control computer is communicably coupled to the first central control computer via a slip ring that provides an electrical connection therebetween, and is operable to receive a control command from the first central control computer through the slip ring.

3 . The local control system of claim 1 , comprising:
a second actuator disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to control motion of the first controllable element; a second sensor disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to provide position feedback in relation to the first controllable element; and a second local control computer disposed in the rotor assembly, wherein the second local control computer is configured to transmit a control signal to the second actuator and receive a feedback signal from the second sensor.

4 . The local control system of claim 3 , wherein the first local control computer and the second local control computer are communicably coupled and configured to exchange data related to the first controllable element.

5 . The local control system of claim 3 , comprising:
an auxiliary sensor disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to provide position feedback in relation to the first controllable element; and wherein at least one of the first local control computer and the second local control computer is configured to receive a feedback signal from the auxiliary sensor.

6 . The local control system of claim 3 , wherein the second local control computer is communicably coupled to a second central control computer and configured to receive a command from the second central control computer.

7 . The local control system of claim 6 , wherein:
the second local control computer is communicably coupled to the first central control computer and configured to receive a command from the first central control computer; and the first local control computer is communicably coupled to the second central control computer and configured to receive a command from the second central control computer.

8 . The local control system of claim 6 , wherein the first local control computer and the second local control computer are each communicably coupled to a third central control computer and configured to receive a command from the third central control computer.

9 . The local control system of claim 6 , comprising:
a third actuator disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to control motion of the first controllable element; a third sensor disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to provide position feedback in relation to the first controllable element; and a third local control computer disposed in the rotor assembly and communicably coupled to a third central control computer disposed in the apparatus external to the rotor assembly, wherein the third local control computer is configured to transmit a control signal to the third actuator and receive a feedback signal from the third sensor.

10 . The local control system of claim 9 , wherein the third local control computer is communicably coupled to the first local control computer and the second local control computer and is configured to exchange data related to the first controllable element.

11 . The local control system of claim 9 , comprising:
a fourth actuator, a fifth actuator and a sixth actuator that are each disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to control motion of a second controllable element in the rotor assembly; a fourth sensor, a fifth sensor and a sixth sensor that are each disposed in the rotor assembly and configured to provide position feedback in relation to the second controllable element; wherein the first local control computer is configured to transmit a control signal to the fourth actuator and receive a feedback signal from the fourth sensor; wherein the second local control computer is configured to transmit a control signal to the fifth actuator and receive a feedback signal from the fifth sensor; and wherein the third local control computer is configured to transmit a control signal to the sixth actuator and receive a feedback signal from the sixth sensor.

12 . The local control system of claim 1 , wherein the first local control computer is configured to receive an update via a remote terminal connection.

13 . The local control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first central control computer is connected to a signal generator disposed in the apparatus external to the rotor assembly; and the signal generator is controllable by the first central control computer to terminate a control function in the rotor assembly.

14 . The local control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus is an aircraft; and the rotor assembly is rotated responsive to torque and rotational energy provided by an engine of the aircraft.

15 . A method comprising, by a local control computer in a rotor assembly of an apparatus:
transmitting a control signal to an actuator in the rotor assembly, wherein the rotor assembly is mounted to the apparatus and is rotated responsive to torque and rotational energy provided thereto, and wherein the actuator is configured to control motion of a first controllable element in the rotor assembly; and receiving a feedback signal from a sensor in the rotor assembly, the feedback signal comprising position feedback in relation to the first controllable element.

16 . The method of claim 15 comprising, by the local control computer:
receiving a control command from a central control computer disposed in the apparatus external to the rotor assembly; and
wherein the transmitting is performed responsive to the control command.

17 . The method of claim 15 comprising, prior to the transmitting:
the local control computer exchanging data with a second local control computer in the rotor assembly; and
based at least in part on the exchanged data, the local control computer determining an agreed-upon decision related to the control signal.

18 . The method of claim 15 , comprising, by the local control computer:
identifying a fault in the rotor assembly; determining a remediation step responsive to the fault; and wherein the transmitting is performed responsive to the determined remediation.

19 . The method of claim 15 , comprising transmitting, by the local control computer, information related to the feedback signal to a central control computer disposed in the apparatus external to the rotor assembly.

20 . A control system for an apparatus, the control system comprising:
a local control system disposed in a rotor assembly of the apparatus, wherein the

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Schulte Kynn Jerald
• Schank Troy Cyril

Classifications

• B64C11/28 Primary

  Collapsible or foldable blades · CPC title

• B64D2045/0085

  Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration · CPC title

• B64D45/00

  Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64C27/72

  Means acting on blades · CPC title

• B64C29/0033

  the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage · CPC title